The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-31
HEARDAT THE CAPITAL.
A VERY obop STORY ABOUT PRI.
vATE SECRETARY LAMONT.
Why He Rejected His Photographs
True Snake Stories Told by Col. Tom
ochiltreerThe Comprehensive Work
OF the Labor, Bureau.


5l5 FoURrEKsfH STREET, WAsHIsdToS,
Oct. 3O.-Theye is good story afoat about |
Col. Dan Lamont, which shows that he APP |
preciates the importance OF appearances.
Some time ago the colonel sat Tor photo
graph in one of the galleries here, and the
result was very creditable picture. These
photographs have been distributed among
the colonel's friends, who admired them
very much. But day or two ago one OF
his friends was seen TO enter the room oc-
cupied by the Presidents private secretary
with an envelope Of the size used TO send
photographs awayin. The friend was in
consultation with Lamont for about fifteen
minutes. Immediately after he left mes
senger was dispatched to the place OF bust
ness OF the photographer who had made
the photos for the colonel. He took an
order 10 destroy the negative and all the
copies OF the photograph which he might
have on hand. This mysterious action
could not be understood for some time, but
at last careful examination Of the
picture was made and IL was found
that several flies had alightcd ON the col
oncls clothes during the sitting. II has
since been learned that the friend pointed
out these adornmcnis 10 the Presidents
secretary, and that he told him that IL
had always been supposed that the colonel
was man upon whom there are no flies
and that II would never do 10 allow the
pictures 10 go out with those minute at
tachmcnts. Dan saw the point, and mt
once took the necessary steps TO prevent
further circulation When he orders an
other lot ho will take care 10 see that each
picture is carefully examined with micro
scope before any OF his friends see them.
In the meantime II those who have copies
of the Fly" brand will return them 10 the
colonel ut once they will receive his hearty
thanks and another picture by return
mail.
TOM oCHrLTREE's TRUE STORY.
A curious story comes TO the Smith
sonian institution from man down in
Texas, through the medium OF Col. Thos.
Ochiltrce. Its accuracy is youched for by
the correspondent, and many circumstan-
tial details are given TO suhstantiate the
statements made in the letter. The story
runs as follows A few days ago, rs the
corresponding was riding through the
country near Fort Worth, lac approached
n clump Of oak trees. There was nothing
extraordinary about that, and the traveller
pursued the chsnacnor OF his way. sud
denly his mule gave a start, and, trem.
bling violentlyi slpwcd every symptom of
extreme fear. Looking toward the trees
the rider ob.eryed rolling toward him
with considerable mpidity what appeared
to he hoop. NAsit came nearer he dis
covered that II was nothing more nor less
than snake, which, with its tail in
its mouth, had formed itself into
a hoop and was bowling along merrily over
the ground in his direction. lie tried 10
urge his mule on, but the animal, para
lived with fear, could not be driven faster
than n walk, and the mysterious snake
rapidly oyCThsulod them. The man, per-
cciyihg II was uselcA "a urge on the poor
mule, dismounted, took 90 his heels and
ran, making much better time than the
lour-iOOtcd beast hal done. Arrived at a
convenient tree, lac lodged behind II and
watched. The mule wis standing where
ho had loft u close hy large oak and the
the snake was within few feet Of il. Sud
denly the snake opened hismouth and, let
ting 20 his tail. made icrocious blow with
that portion Of his anatomy Mt the trem-
bling mule. Either the aim was not good
or the mule in last attempt 10 escape
moved little; anyway, the tail Just gr,zcd
the mules leg, and striking the tree be.
hind remained imbcdded there. The mule
gave one or two conyulsive struggles aud
then laid down and died.
The colonels ycmciaus correspondent
made the best Of his way back To the city
and there related what had occurred. 4
party was organized 70 proceed TO the spot
next day and authenticate the story. On
arriving u, the place the body OF the dead
mule was found, much swollen. The
snake, too, wns discovered, fast 10 the tree
aud dead while the oak itself, which ON
the preceding day had been a hourishing.
strong and lively tree, was withcrcd up.
II was found that tile snake had n horn
about three or four inches long on It's tail,
and Il was with that that the reptile had
struck the mule and fastened itself 10 the
tree. The poison emitted through this
horn ike protubcrance had killed both the
beast and the trce.
The name aud addrcss Of gentleman.
said 10 be- nj present In the city, was given,
he having been witness Of the occur
renee. From the fict that there was no
such addrcss as tlIn, given, and no such
gentleman 10 be lound, the story il not
given much crcdencc ut the Smithsonian.
Among The ncgrocs oi the south, and also
among educated white people, there exists
a firm belief in iho ability Of certain
species oi snake, popularity known M the
hoop snake, to do just what Col Ochil.
tines correspondent claims that this one
did.
Throughout the south and souihwcs,
Al 4
''rltS snake from the TACT, ~ popularity
Nouchcd, that, when struck they break
into several pieces, Nhirh, II allowed 10 NJ.
main quietly, will unite together again and
form complete AMI pCrirtt snake once
more. This peculiar belief has only for its
basis the fact tlsst Wy snake, being rrnlly A
particularly hHitfe, Ind slight blow only
u pQuircd io sever iis tail irum H. head.
The paris do no1 ryilc together again. A. il
popularity bclior,H but q new NH grnws
In place OF the one stricken oil Another
quite common uihAI il that the lone. tbin
snake, iapcring-.ou fine point AT The tail
and called from this circumstance a ''whip
snake" will pursue man and artually
whip him Ia death with M. tail The only
foundation for ttiYrupcn,ition will pro6.
planter, in iorIeJdays to prevent '" ,beir
slaves from wandering from The plantation
ai night
\ HARD o@rSo BUREAU.
ltmay. perhaps, sound rather hypprloli
cal. but there actYsNy an employees In Inc
government who have 10 be- rrs.wincd by
their chiefs Tor fear that they shonld o,rr.
work Themselves These two cNr,p,ipns
Ia the general rule ar ladies Who arc an.
gagged In collecting data Tor the labor I'm.
rrau ON the condition oi Wbtkinrvomrn In /